Author: Markos Nalchajian

8.5 THOUSAND DISABLED PEOPLE REGISTERED IN ARTSAKH TODAY
YEREVAN, December 6 (Noyan Tapan). A competition-exhibition of
handworks of disabled children aged below 18 was organized in
Stepanakert in connection with the December 3 International Day of
Disabled People. According to the NKR Ministry of Social Security,
there are 483 disabled children aged below 18 in Artsakh today. The
amount of state welfare benefits given them makes 4,000 drams (about
8 dollars) and pensions – 5,200 drams. The number of disabled people
makes a total of 8.5 thousand people in Artsakh today.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE CIS ANTI-TERRORIST CENTER HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW WORKING GROUP
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 24, 2004, Wednesday
The CIS anti-terrorist center has established a new working group in
charge of compiling a list of organizations the activities of which may
be banned in the CIS. S. Polukarov, head of the legal support group
of the anti-terrorist center, stated: “Of course, every CIS region
has its priority tasks. However, our approach to evaluating interior
and exterior threats coincides, and differences linked with these
priority tasks must not prevent us from coming to an agreement.” The
CIS anti-terrorist center has created a specialized database of
terrorist structures, persons and nongovernmental organizations,
which support terrorists. The center is now creating legal mechanisms
for banning the activities of such organizations. S. Polukarov noted:
“We will summarize all materials about such organizations.”
S. Polukarov noted that the anti-terrorist center focuses on exchanging
operational reports and organizing full-scale operational-tactical
exercises. He noted that the South-Antiterror exercise was conducted in
Kyrgyzstan in 2001. It is intended to conduct an exercise in Kazakhstan
in August-September 2005, in Armenia in 2006 and Russia in 2007.
At present 11 CIS nations are members of the anti-terrorist center.
Turkmenistan did not join the center, though its representatives
attended the Sochi meeting of the Council of the heads of the security
and special services. Uzbekistan also plays the role of an observer
in the Council and the Anti-terrorist center.
Source: Granitsa Rossii, No. 43, November 17-23, 2004, p. 2
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Monde
19 novembre 2004
Plus de 250 députés ont symboliquement voté contre l’ouverture de
négociations avec la Turquie pour son entrée dans l’UE, sans
reconnaissance du génocide arménien.;
Dépêche
Plus de 250 députés UMP, UDF et PS ont symboliquement voté, mercredi
17 novembre à Paris, à l’appel d’organisations arméniennes, contre
l’ouverture de négociations avec la Turquie pour son entrée dans
l’Union européenne, le 17 décembre, tant que « le génocide arménien
[de 1915] n’aura pas été reconnu par Ankara ».

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Andrew Souvall/Pallone
November 8, 2004
Jennifer Cannata/Pallone (202) 225-4671
Christopher Close/Knollenberg (202) 225-5802
PALLONE, KNOLLENBERG URGE STATE DEPARTMENT TO RENOUNCE CONTROVERSIAL
AZERI U.N. RESOLUTION
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), cochairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, today called on the United States to renounce and to secure the
retraction of an Azeri United Nations resolution that urges the removal of
Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, the lawmakers expressed
concern that the resolution would undermine peace talks in the region.
“Azerbaijan’s proposal represents a hostile declaration against the entire
peace process, aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness,” Pallone and
Knollenberg wrote in their letter to Secretary Powell. “Its consideration
can only set back the cause of peace.
“Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the
best interests of the U.S. and the South Caucasus region,” the lawmakers
continued. “We urge that the United States forcefully renounce this
proposal, secure its retraction, and impress upon the Azerbaijani government
that it should drop such counter-productive tactics in favor of a serious
and lasting commitment to the OSCE Minsk Group process.”
Last month, when the resolution came up for a vote in the U.N.
General Committee, the U.S. abstained, refusing to take a stand against this
harmful resolution. In the letter, Pallone and Knollenberg urged opposition
to the resolution when it comes before the U.N. General Assembly.
“We value the vital role the United States plays as an honest broker in the
Nagorno Karabakh peace process,” Pallone and Knollenberg wrote. “In this
capacity, given our commitment to keep the parties talking and moving
forward, it is necessary for the United States to act forcefully against
destabilizing steps that will unravel the peace process.”
Text of the letter to Secretary Powell follows.
November 7, 2004
The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520-0001
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are writing to share with you our alarm over the prospect that
Azerbaijan’s continued efforts at the United Nations to manipulate the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will, if unchecked, undermine our clearly
articulated national interest in the stability of the Caucasus.
We refer, of course, to Azerbaijan’s recent introduction of an ill-advised
resolution on the “situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.”
This intentionally disruptive resolution threatens the principles and
procedures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
as well as the Minsk group mediation effort, co-chaired by the United
States, France and Russia, to resolve the Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan’s
proposal represents a hostile declaration against the entire peace process,
aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness. Its consideration can only
set back the cause of peace.
We are deeply concerned that the OSCE Minsk process cannot survive
Azerbaijan’s destabilizing tactics. Continued tampering with this process
will inevitably produce a chain reaction resulting in its demise. We cannot
afford to allow Azerbaijan to continue to disrupt the work of the OSCE,
which, as you know, has been recognized by the UN itself as the lead arbiter
in this conflict.
We value the vital role the United States plays as an honest broker in the
Nagorno Karabakh peace process. In this capacity, given our commitment to
keep the parties talking and moving forward, it is necessary for the United
States to act forcefully against destabilizing steps that will unravel the
peace process. Our interests are best served by the continuation of
dialogue on the outstanding issues related to Nagorno Karabakh within the
OSCE framework, not by the fragmentation of this orderly process.
Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the
best interests of the U.S. and the South Caucasus region. To this end, we
urge that the United States forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its
retraction, and impress upon the Azerbaijani government that it should drop
such counter-productive tactics in favor of a serious and lasting commitment
to the OSCE Minsk Group process.
Thank you for your consideration of our views. We stand ready, of course,
to assist you in addressing this matter in the interest of the American
people.
Sincerely,
Joe Knollenberg Frank Pallone, Jr.
Member of Congress Member of Congress
-30-
Jennifer Karch Cannata
Press Secretary
Office of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.
420 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4671 office
(202) 225-9665 fax
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DELEGATION OF USA’S ARMENIAN CONGRESS IN ARTSAKH
Azg/am
20 Oct 04
Delegation of America’s Armenian Congress, headed by Ani Totah,
arrived in Stepanakert on a three-day visit.
The delegation members visited the HALO Trust office, the Center of
Child’s Works in Stepanakert and then headed for Shushi.
Accompanied by first lady Inna Ghukasian, they visited secondary
school N2. On the initiative of Inna Ghukasian and AAC’s support $120
thousandwas gathered in Los Angeles for repairing the school. Repair
started on August of the current year. The guests learnt of the
working rate and handed out copybooks and pens to pupils.
Ani Totah said that an Armenian American promised to contribute $270
thousand to one of Stepanakert’s schools only in case it is named
after him.School N6 was chosen for this purpose.
Delegation visited Gandzasar and Stepanakert’s carpet weaving factory
yesterday. President of Artsakh Arkady Ghukasian and chairman of
National Assembly Oleg Yesayan received the guests at the end of the
day.
According to the schedule, AAC delegation will visit Stepanakert’s
Museum of History and Geology after which they will leave Artsakh.
By Kim Gabrielian from Stepanakert

Foreign minister to attend CICA meeting in Almaty
People’s Daily Online, China
Oct 16 2004
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will pay an official visit to
Armenia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and attend the foreign ministers’
meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building
Measures in Asia (CICA) to be held from October 18 to 24 in Almaty.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue made the announcements
here Friday, saying that Li will make this tour at the invitation
of Kazakh State Secretary-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasymzhomart
Kemelevich Tokayev, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan
Oskanyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
ofTurkmenistan Rashid Meredov, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov.
CICA, a forum aimed at increasing security in Asia, was first proposed
by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the 47th UN general
assembly in 1992 and its 16 members include China, Russia, Egypt,
Afghanistan, Israel, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, India and Palestine.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAVIT SHAHNAZARIAN: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES ARE PURSUING POLICY AIMED AT
NON-SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
YEREVAN, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). The NKR authorities are now pursuing
a policy of non-settlement of the Karabakh conflict aiming to prolong
their tenure, ANM (Armenian national Movement) board member Davit
Shahnazarian made this statement during his October 9 meeting with
reporters at the “Azdak” (“Stimulus”) club of the “Constitutional
Right” Union. According to him, Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev
are just making another attempt to “imitate” a settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Testifying to this are the agreements
reached between the two foreign ministers in Prague which were later
declined by the presidents. As for the Astana meeting held with the
mediation of Russia, it gave occasion to a tougher position on part of
both countries. According to the speaker, the solution to the problem
should be based on mutual compromise and aimed at ensuring territorial
integration, because it is impossible to increase the living standards
of the Armenian population whithout it. The conflict, according to him,
should be settled stage by stage, since “there is no other alternative,
and the package version is just a way of non-settlement.” That is to
say, “as long as we have a an opportunity to cede anyhting and get
something else instead we must agree to this kind of settlement.” The
territories surrounding Karabakh, Shahnazarian said, are solving the
problem of Karabakh’s security, “and if we cede anything, if we give
a small part of territory, we should get security guarantees instead,
and it is the international community rather than Azerbaijan that
should give those guarantees.” As a result, Azerbaijan returns some
territories, and returns refugees to those territories, instead the
blockade against Armenia is lifted and the country gets a chance to
participate in the regional integration processes, Karabakh receives
security guarantees, whereas the issue of its status is put off on an
unknown period of time. Both Kocharian’s and Aliyev’s positions over
the Karabakh settlement, Shahnazarian stated, are beyond real politics,
and the current situation seriously jeopardizes the security of both
Karabakh and Armenia. The non-settlement policy gives occasion to new
complications, especially, the possibility that Azerbaijan may shift
from the status of an agressor to that of a victim. In connection
with closing Verin Lars’s border-crossing point by Russia, Davit
Shahnazarian said Russia has taken this step in reply to Armenia’s
decision to send a military unit to Iraq. The speaker also said
Armenia should not obstruct Turkey’s accession to the EU and should
not make the Armenian Genocide a “small change” in the two countries’
relations. Turkey is playing quite a great role in ensuring security
in the Caucasian region and opening Armenian-Turkish border will have
a positive influence on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

El Pais
2 octubre, 2004
Como liberar rehenes?
MARY KALDOR
La irrupcion de la captura de rehenes en el orden del dia de la
politica internacional y en las vidas de los ciudadanos de a pie de
todo el mundo (tanto los que se ven afectados directamente como los
que consumen el fenomeno a traves del espectaculo de los medios) no
es totalmente nueva.
Pero mientras que pasados incidentes como la crisis de los 444 dias
en la Embajada estadounidense en Iran o la captura de occidentales en
Libano en la decada de los ochenta podian entenderse como
ramificaciones especiales de crisis de seguridad determinadas, el
secuestro de rehenes en la era de la “guerra contra el terrorismo” ha
adquirido facetas nuevas y perturbadoras que reflejan la cambiante
relacion entre la guerra y la politica.
Chechenia e Irak revelan esta nueva realidad en su aspecto mas
brutal. El asedio de Beslan, en Osetia del Norte, fue el ultimo de
una tragica serie (Budionovsk, 1995; Kizlyar, 1996; Moscu, 2002),
mientras que la proliferacion de secuestros de trabajadores
extranjeros (periodistas, voluntarios, empleados subcontratados) en
Irak indica un patron de conducta que refleja no solo la presencia
activa de grupos radicales individuales, sino un desorden politico e
incluso moral mas profundo en el que todos los que son testigos de el
estan involucrados de alguna manera.
Para comprender que esta ocurriendo y como nosotros (ciudadanos,
gobiernos, familiares, ONGs, observadores mediaticos) podemos
responder de la mejor manera al secuestro de rehenes, es necesario
evaluar tanto la diferencia entre las guerras “viejas” y las “nuevas”
como las principales estrategias empleadas actualmente por los
Estados en funcion de la experiencia en este campo.
Recuerdo una visita que hice a Baku, en Azerbaiyan, como miembro de
una delegacion de la Asamblea de Ciudadanos de Helsinki, cuando el
pais se hallaba en plena guerra con Armenia por el disputado
territorio de Nagorno-Karabaj en 1992. Un promotor de la construccion
de nacionalidad rusa se acerco a nosotros y nos pregunto si podiamos
ayudarle a encontrar a su hijo, al cual habian hecho rehen en
Armenia. Viajamos con el hasta la frontera y hablamos con las
autoridades locales. Nos dijeron que el hijo del promotor habia sido
secuestrado por una familia en Armenia, que se negaba a liberarle
hasta que su propio hijo, que habia sido secuestrado en Azerbaiyan,
fuera liberado. Esto sin duda describia una extensa cadena de
secuestro de rehenes.
Nos sugirieron que nos dirigieramos a un ex agente del KGB al otro
lado de la frontera armenia. Negociamos un alto el fuego temporal
para poder cruzar la frontera. Nuestros interlocutores armenio y
azerbayano se conocian entre si bastante bien desde antes de la
guerra, y parecian estar abrumados por lo que estaba ocurriendo.
Cuando llegamos al otro lado nos recibio el agente del KGB, que
llevaba uniforme militar y gafas de sol Ray-ban, con un crucifijo
plateado colgado del cuello. Le dimos los nombres de los jovenes
rehenes.
Esta historia en concreto tuvo un final feliz. Los comites de la
Asamblea de Ciudadanos de Helsinki tanto en Azerbaiyan como en
Armenia pudieron emplear la informacion que recogimos para ejercer
presion sobre las autoridades de ambos bandos. El 12 de mayo de 1994,
cientos de rehenes fueron liberados en la zona de la frontera por la
que nosotros habiamos cruzado.
Pero hay otras guerras en las que los rehenes no tienen tanta suerte.
Como mucho son intercambiados por dinero, por armas o incluso por
cadaveres. Pero tambien son obligados a luchar, son violados o
mutilados, mantenidos en cautiverio durante anos o asesinados a
menudo de forma macabra.
Las guerras contemporaneas son muy distintas de las guerras clasicas
del pasado en las que los soldados luchaban contra otros soldados, e
incluso de las mas recientes “guerras menores”, en las que los
adversarios son al menos combatientes reconocibles, como las
guerrillas o las unidades paramilitares. En esta nueva forma de
guerra, las batallas son poco frecuentes; casi toda la violencia la
padecen los civiles, y la distincion entre guerra como tal, crimen
organizado y violaciones de los derechos humanos se diluye cada vez
mas.
Estas guerras estan transformando la relacion entre la politica y la
violencia. En lugar de ser la politica la que sufre la persecucion a
traves de metodos violentos, es la propia violencia la que se
convierte en politica. No es el conflicto lo que lleva a la guerra,
sino la propia guerra la que genera el conflicto. Los insurgentes o
combatientes terroristas intentan establecer el control politico
asesinando o intimidando a los que son “diferentes”, ya sea desde el
punto de vista politico, etnico o religioso. Esto genera miedo y odio
entre todos los grupos sociales involucrados.
Los exodos de poblacion, las violaciones en masa, la destruccion de
edificios y simbolos historicos, no son efectos secundarios de la
guerra, sino parte de una estrategia deliberada.
Los actos de violencia espectacular, como la decapitacion, la
mutilacion de extremidades, la destruccion de mezquitas del siglo XVI
(como las de Banja, Luka o Bosnia) o de estatuas budistas (como en
Bamiyan, Afganistan) estan dirigidos a resaltar y dar autenticidad a
la idea de guerra santa, una lucha epica entre el bien y el mal.
Estas guerras suelen librarse en lo que se conoce como Estados
“fracasados” o “en camino de fracasar”. Dada la falta de recaudacion
fiscal o de patrocinadores extranjeros, la financiacion para estas
guerras se consigue a traves de la violencia (saqueos, pillaje,
“derechos” en las aduanas, comercio ilegal).
Muchos analistas consideran que esta anormal economia politica se
convierte en un sistema autosuficiente y un motivo para la
continuacion de la violencia.
Chechenia e Irak ofrecen ejemplos actuales de como en la practica, la
politica y la economia se difuminan en estas nuevas guerras. En
Chechenia, los generales rusos com
Pasa a la pagina siguiente
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 16 2004
TRIPARTITE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AND
THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA ROBERT KOCHARYAN WITH PARTICIPATION OF THE
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN
[September 15, 2004, 16:32:08]
After the private meeting of two presidents, was held a tripartite
meeting of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President
of Armenia Robert Kocharyan with participation of the President of
Russia Vladimir Putin, correspondent of AzerTAj reported from Astana.
Having emphasized importance of carrying out of such meeting within
the framework of summit in Astana, President Vladimir Putin has told:
“It is very glad that presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia continue
the negotiations connected to settlement of this heavy problem. We
support these negotiations and bilateral meetings. And the main is
that both sides wish peace settlement of the conflict. I hope, that
the conducted negotiations will be productive. Though any result has
not been achieved yet, nevertheless, each meeting is a step forward.
It is confident, that leaders of both countries will come to the
common denominator. Irrespective of results of negotiations, the
today’s meeting is a step forward.
President Robert Kocharyan has told: “It is our second meeting. The
first had fact-finding character. The present meeting was enough
interesting, and the wide discussion connected to the conflict has
taken place. We have carried out a detailed exchange of opinions on
the certain moments”. Robert Kocharyan has told that informs about
it to the President of Russia in absence of journalists.
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has thanked President of
Russia Vladimir Putin for the activity shown in the settlement of the
said question. The head of Azerbaijan State has told: “Russia as our
neighbor and the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, plays important role
in settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict. At
the present meeting, we have discussed the problem, had exchange of
opinions. We aspire to establishment of peace in our region. We hope,
that our further negotiations will be fruitful.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Network of America, Washington Region
P. O. Box 10423
Arlington, VA 22210-9998
Email: [email protected]
Washington, DC. – The Armenian Network invites you to a presentation
on US support to science and technology development in Armenia through
the US Civilian Research Development Foundation (CRDF).
This event is jointly sponsored with the Washington Section of the
Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (GMWAS/AESA, contact
Dr. Jack Kooyoomjian, [email protected]). It features CRDF
speakers John Modzelewski, Director of Centers and Institution Building
Programs, and Ms. Siri B. Oswald, Senior Manager for Institution
Building Programs. They will introduce and update participants to
the many programs and research and development activities sponsored
by the US CRDF and other organizations which directly benefit the
scientists and engineers in Armenia.
Network seminars provide great opportunities for professional
networking. In particular, this seminar should appeal to all those
interested in (1) supporting research projects that offer scientists
and engineers alternatives to emigration and strengthen the scientific
and technological infrastructure of Armenia; (2) funding collaborative
research and development projects; (3) helping move applied research
to the marketplace; (4) strengthening research and education in
Armenian universities. On the eve of its independence anniversary,
let’s celebrate Armenia’s past scientific achievements and explore
ways of sustaining its future development.
The presentation is scheduled for 6:30pm, Tuesday, September 21,
2004, at 1530 Wilson Boulevard, 3rd Floor CRDF conference room,
Arlington, Virginia 22209. CRDF headquarters are located two
blocks from the Roslyn metro stop. For driving directions check
Advance registration is required for security purposes. Please RSVP by
noon Sept. 20th to [email protected]. Refreshments will be served.
Event is free and open to the public.
The Armenian Network of America, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
membership based organization dedicated to the advancement of the
Armenian American community.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress